Amusement device



3965 J. c. SITTER 3,193,28

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Oct. 2, 1961 INVENTOR. Jamw C. iitar BY [adrus $3M United States Patent 3,193,236 AMUSEMENT DEVICE James C. Sitter, 1071 W. th Ave, Oshkosh, Wis. Filed Oct. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 142,239 2 Qlaims. ((Il. 272-1) This invention relates to an amusement device and particularly to a tubular device of considerable extent upon which a person attempts to stand and balance himself while rolling the device along the ground.

The present invention is particularly directed to an amusement device or toy which helps develop a persons sense of ability, agility and coordination while playing with the device.

In accordance with the present invention, a tubular drum-like device includes radialy spaced inner and outer walls which define a weight control chamber therebetween. Within the weight control chamber, sand, water or similar material is inserted to increase the weight of the device for controlling the degree of balance required to stand on the device and the tendency of the device to roll upon the ground from beneath the person. The

tendency of the device to roll decreases with the weight and consequently, by regulating the amount of sand, water or the like provided within the chamber, the ease of standing and rolling the drum-like unit is controlled. The separate weight control chamber also allows the device to be made with a relatively small diameter while providing a substantial weight such that young children can manipulate the device.

The present invention thus provides a simple, fascinating toy which will develop coordination of the user.

The drawing furnished herewith illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial elevational view of a drum-like device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the drumlike device shown in FIG. 1 with parts broken away and sectioned to show details of construction; and

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the drum-like device includes drum-like members 1 and 2 secured in axially end-to-end relation forming a rolling member upon which a player, not shown, can stand and balance and by proper manipulation cause the device to roll along the ground while standing thereon.

Members 1 and 2 each include concentric tubular inner and outer walls 3 and 4 formed of a suitable heavy duty and high strength plastic or the like. The walls 3 and 4 are radially spaced with the inner walls 3 a continuous element and the outer walls 4 having inwardly curved ends 5 and 6. A common radial wall 7 joins the inner and outer walls 3 and 4 at the junction of the members 1 and 2 and defines a weight control chamber extending the length of the device. The common radial wall '7 also increases the strength of the device and establishes a pair of distinct play areas whereby two players can simultaneously stand one on each of the drum-like members l and 2 to determine which can stay on the device the longest. A series of circumterentially spaced openings 8 in the common radial wall 7 establishes communication throughout the weight control chamber.

A solid end wall 9 closes the outer end of the drumlike member 1 and a similar end wall it) closes the op posite end of the drum-like member 2.

A filler nipple 11 is provided in the end wall it) with a threaded cap 12 releasably closing the filling opening.

3,l%,28b Patented July 6, 1955 A gasket 13 is provided between the end of nipple l1 and the threaded cap 12 to provide a liquid tight joint at the filler nipple 11.

Water 14 is introduced into the wei ht control chamber through the nipple 11 and the openings 8 and reaches a similar level in both members 1 and 2. The amount of water 14 introduced allows selective control of the weight of the device and the resulting tendency of the device to roll while the player is standing thereon.

The tubular walls 4 are provided with axial corrugations "or projections 15 to increase the strength of the assembly and further to increase the frictional forces between the foot of the player and the device. This allows somewhat easier control of the unit where desired.

The interior walls 3 are provided with circumferential corrugations or projections to substantially increase the strength of the drum-like members 1 and 2.

The operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention is summarized as follows.

The device is positioned with the filler nipple 11 in the topmost position for ease of filling and the water 14 is introduced into the weight control chambers between the drum walls 3 and 4 to any selected level. The cap 12 is threaded onto nipple 11 to seal the weight control chamber and retain the water 14 within the drumlike device. The player stands on the drum and, after establishing his balance, by proper manipulation of his feet can cause the device to roll along the ground. If the player finds it impossible to stand on the device or to cause it to roll upon the ground with the selected water level, additional water 14 can be introduced into the chambers to decrease the tendency of the device to roll whereby the player can more easily and with less sense of balance stand on the drum and cause it to roll upon the ground.

If, on the other hand, the player finds that it is exceedingly easy to stand on the device and to cause it to roll upon the ground with the selected water level, the device can be rotated to dispose the filler nipple 11 below the normal level of the water 14 and some of the Water removed. This decreases the weight of the unit and increases its tendency to roll. Consequently, the player will find standing and rolling of the device to be more difficult and require development of a greater sense of balance.

The present invention thus provides a fascinating amusement device having the characteristic of develop ing the physical ability of the player.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. In an amusement device,

a pair of similar double-wall drum members secured end-to-end with a common radial wall at the junction thereof, each of said drum members having radially spaced tubular walls joined by said common radial wall and by end walls to define weight controlling chambers,

said common radial wall having circumferentially spaced openings for communicating between said chambers, and

means for introducing a weight controlling material into said chambers.

2. In an amusement device,

a pair of similar double-wall drum members secured end-to-end with a common radial wall at the junction and by end walls to define Weight controlling chambers,

said common radial Wall having circumferentially spaced openings 'for communicating between said chambers, 7

one of said end Walls having a filling nipple for said chambers,

a flowing material substantially filling said chambers,

and

a cap releasably secured to the filling nipple for introducing and removing the flowing material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 508,157 11/93 Wilson 94-50 2,175,197v 10/39 Kent 272 1 RICHARD c. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. DELEERT B. LOWE, Examiner, 

1. IN AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE, A PAIR OF SIMILAR DOUBLE-WALL DRUMMEMBERS SECURED END-TO-END WITH A COMMON RADIAL WALL AT THE JUNCTION THEREOF, EACH OF SAID DRUM MEMBERS HAVING RADIALLY SPACED TUBULAR WALLS JOINED BY SAID COMMON RADIAL WALL AND BY END WALLS TO DEFINE WEIGHT CONTROLLING CHAMBERS, SAID COMMON RADIAL WALL HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED OPENINGS FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID CHAMBERS, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING MATERIAL INTO SAID CHAMBERS. 